Several videos of prototypes of Sony Ericsson's 'PlayStation Phone' have emerged, giving viewers an early look at Sony's answer to the increasing popularity of gaming on the iPhone.

Leaked photos of the 'PlayStation Phone' were published by Engadget in October, but hands-on videos posted to YouTube this week are the best evidence for the phone's existence so far.

The device, which is listed as the "Zeus" model number in the video, has slide-out physical controls similar to the Sony PSP Go handheld gaming device, in addition to a touchscreen, which reportedly measures 4 inches. The slide-out controls appear to have the rumored multi-touch touchpad.

The video also corroborates rumors that the smartphone runs Google's "Gingerbread" Android 2.3. Earlier reports indicated that the phone has a 1GHz Qualcomm chip, 512MB of RAM, a 5 megapixel camera and 1GB of internal storage.

In a second video, the user selects the "PlayStation" icon to verify the smartphone's PlayStation functionality, though the device lacks any "content items" to display.

They should have seen this coming so many years ago, made their portable gaming devices into great portable media players back in the iPod heyday and been ready for the inevitable combining of cellphones into pocketable devices. Too little, too late I’m afraid.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

They should have seen this coming so many years ago, made their portable gaming devices into great portable media players back in the iPod heyday and been ready for the inevitable combining of cellphones into pocketable devices. Too little, too late Im afraid.

This is not a bad time.... the controls do allow for more advanced gameplay (in general!) than just a touch screen alone.

i do agree it could have come sooner, and probably should have, but its a fine device )from what i saw)

PC means personal computer.

i have processing issues, mostly trying to get my ideas into speech and text.

It'll be interesting to see how well it integrates into the Playstation world. The PSP itself has great integration into full PS3 games and I can see Sony doing a great many things with a Playstation Phone. Use it as a PS Move controller perhaps?

Hopefully they can slim it down a bit before they show it off officially at CES.

I actually think this could be massive for Sony and for Android. Portable gaming is huge. The iPhone/iPod touch are good, but touch screens are not suitable for many genres of games. You really need buttons.

This is not a bad time.... the controls do allow for more advanced gameplay (in general!) than just a touch screen alone.

i do agree it could have come sooner, and probably should have, but its a fine device )from what i saw)

Yeah, physically it does look nice. I wasnt judging that aspect of it, I just hate when companies get lazy and miss opportunities that open up for them.

I also think Apple should have released gaming APIs for the iOS SDK and a signaling code for physical controller accessory makers. This would allow game designers to include physical controller options in the SW that would be the same across the board, and allow 3rd-party accessory designers to make D-pads and other such accessories, all whilst working independently of each other.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

Since the PlayStation Network offers games, movies, TV series and a social network, Sony may be going after more than just the gaming market with a PlayStation-branded phone. With access to media through the PSN, the Zeus could pose a serious threat to Apple's dominant iPhone/iTunes combo.

I wouldn't count on Sony posing a serious threat to anybody at this point, much less Apple.

I actually think this could be massive for Sony and for Android. Portable gaming is huge. The iPhone/iPod touch are good, but touch screens are not suitable for many genres of games. You really need buttons.

I'm with you 100%. I think this is the first thing I've seen an Android Device do that differentiates it 100% from the iPhone, rather than just copying what it does and adding some bullet point feature here or there that only the nerds care about. This is a whole new, unique functionality.

4G? Bigger screen? Flash? Better processor and camera specs? A lot of people look at that stuff and say who cares. Its still basically a lot like the Apple model of combining iPod with phone and adding web browsing and apps, only doing a poorer job of it. But when you add in basically a whole new device, like a Playstation or PSP, that's a game changer. Apple should have added game pad API a long time ago, but its not too late just yet.

Most phones like these have internal storage as well as SD card support. If SE is betting that 1GB is enough for just your phone apps (not games) then i think its a fairly safe bet to make.

I doubt this is something Sony Ericsson could have made a year or two ago, as the mobile processors for phones werent great, the Snapdragon was around though, but this one is using the one with Adreno 205 apparently. All the while SE was testing the waters this time last year with the PSP-Go digital only distribution...didnt work well, but on a cell phone it could be a different story.

Anyways i'm very excited about this, if it has the full Playstation and PSP catalog and has the same sync capabilities as a PSP to PS3 i just might be sold already, just waiting to see if the Nexus S does indeed have a dual core or not.

This device could be a smash hit for SE, considering the value. For a subsidized price of 199 you'd have a top tier smartphone that does web, apps, music AND a gaming device with some of the best games on the market from the best developers.

If SE could pull numbers like Samsung is with the Galaxy S, i'd say that would be a marvelous boost to the PSP platform and SE's bottom line.

Hmm... Interesting. As a (former) PSP fan, I think they can sell it if they can port some well-made titles to the platform. Relying on physical D-pad and buttons seems so 2000 and makes the thing kinda bulky. As far as I can tell, it's probably a new platform, with no ties to the original PSP...they must be desperate.

Sales of the PSP Go were not "disappointing" - they have been a disaster. the Go is a total flop. the old PSP2 outsells it! because it's cheap and the old games work - and you can still find them cheap now too.

for Sony to switch to Android is a desperate "hail Mary." Nintendo at least is trying to salvage its DSI franchise with new technology - 3D. probably won't work either. but being one more Android "me too" commodity product is certain death for Sony's PSP franchise. "the Zeus could pose a serious threat to Apple's dominant iPhone/iTunes combo"? wow, what you smokin'? no one cares about Sony anymore, dude.

Does anyone know how they implemented the PSP side into the phone? Does this mean that PSP now runs in Dalvik VM or does this mean that PSP OS is launched when you press the button (I know it's not the latter, but still)?

Sales of the PSP Go were not "disappointing" - they have been a disaster. the Go is a total flop. the old PSP2 outsells it! because it's cheap and the old games work - and you can still find them cheap now too.

for Sony to switch to Android is a desperate "hail Mary." Nintendo at least is trying to salvage its DSI franchise with new technology - 3D. probably won't work either. but being one more Android "me too" commodity product is certain death for Sony's PSP franchise. "the Zeus could pose a serious threat to Apple's dominant iPhone/iTunes combo"? wow, what you smokin'? no one cares about Sony anymore, dude.

the PSP is going the way of the Walkman.

Umm... Last I read, PSP sales in hardware and games are still going strong. iOS and Android are only just recently capable of pushing PSP-level graphics. Because of this, it'll be a while before the game producers for portable gaming systems (PSP, DS) shift over in force to smartphones.

Does anyone know how they implemented the PSP side into the phone? Does this mean that PSP now runs in Dalvik VM or does this mean that PSP OS is launched when you press the button (I know it's not the latter, but still)?

Is it just me or has anyone else out there thought that now its on android on its "open" OS its going to mean a matter of weeks before people crack the code and you can just download the games off of a torrent site somewhere.

As much as people hate to admit it that is one way that Apple and iOS has an advantage. Especially for developers. Hell even windows phone 7 and its xbox live integration has potential.

How many devs can you see jumping to the chance to sell half a dozen copies of an app/game when it is all over the internet and free thanks to Androids insecurities?

Personally i like the idea that a larger games company teams up with a phone OS maker. I just cant see it working if they decide to go completely open source.

Im really hoping that one day we either see a merger or a buy out of Nintendo with Apple. Great games and a great distribution network.

It's obvious from those videos that when it comes to Sony, Apple has absolutely nothing to worry about.

Who says Apple has something to worry about? In the portable gaming field, Apple's the one playing catch-up to Sony and Nintendo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheff

Does anyone know how they implemented the PSP side into the phone? Does this mean that PSP now runs in Dalvik VM or does this mean that PSP OS is launched when you press the button (I know it's not the latter, but still)?

I don't know the specifics behind it, but here's a video of the PS side running from Android.

Is it just me or has anyone else out there thought that now its on android on its "open" OS its going to mean a matter of weeks before people crack the code and you can just download the games off of a torrent site somewhere.

Actually because it is open source Sony can modify the OS, locking it down so you cannot root the phone and they can add hardware DRM support to prevent it running pirated games.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheff

Does anyone know how they implemented the PSP side into the phone? Does this mean that PSP now runs in Dalvik VM or does this mean that PSP OS is launched when you press the button (I know it's not the latter, but still)?

My guess is the games will be Android apps (ie running in the Dalvik virtual machine). Sony will probably tweak the Android API to add support for gaming features.

Playstation Phone != PSP

Quote:

Originally Posted by karateCHOP!

WTF took so long SONY? This should have been in the works years ago. Old Sony would have been all over this long ago.

In the old Sony all the devisions hated each other. Getting SCE (aka the Playstation devision) and SonyEriccson to work together was impossible.

They should have seen this coming so many years ago, made their portable gaming devices into great portable media players back in the iPod heyday and been ready for the inevitable combining of cellphones into pocketable devices. Too little, too late I’m afraid.

They should have seen this coming so many years ago, made their portable gaming devices into great portable media players back in the iPod heyday and been ready for the inevitable combining of cellphones into pocketable devices. Too little, too late Im afraid.

If this really makes it out of vaporware status and becomes real, I don't think it will be any threat to Apple's iPhone. Instead, it would be one of the few Android phones that would stand out from all of the others. It could be a viable product that could become a big threat to HTC, Moto, Samsung and others. Sony would have many advantages that Apple enjoys, including making the PSP software, the game controllers and APIs, software distribution channels, and most importantly, consumer familiarity and reputation for the gaming genre.
I wouldn't think that Sony would allow other manufacturers to license the PSP system into their hardware, so it would likely be a Sony exclusive within the Android sea of many look-alikes. If Sony does this correctly, it could become an popular device.

Sony would have many advantages that Apple enjoys, including making the PSP software, the game controllers and APIs, software distribution channels, and most importantly, consumer familiarity and reputation for the gaming genre.
I wouldn't think that Sony would allow other manufacturers to license the PSP system into their hardware, so it would likely be a Sony exclusive within the Android sea of many look-alikes. If Sony does this correctly, it could become an popular device.

the important part is that is CAN stand alone.

also, i think that if you liked to play games on a consul or computer, this would be a much better choice than an iphone.

that being said, for pure multimedia, a PSP was better than the old itouch, in my case, as for its price you can get more data storage, and as someone pointed out earlier, torrent games + hacking.

the fact that it offers support for more advanced game play, and the reasons you pointed out (uniqueness, Sony making all of its own stuff and having its own store) also are reasons it should succeed.

i would bet (if advertised well) and well subsidized, it probably could pick up 1-3% of smartphone shares at least.

PC means personal computer.

i have processing issues, mostly trying to get my ideas into speech and text.

This last season of South Park was good. Will they ever jump the shark?

As for my post, I have been saying that about Sony and Nintendo long before their respective portable sales were dropping. It’s really too bad, because both have the capabilities to make products that could rival Apple.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

If this really makes it out of vaporware status and becomes real, I don't think it will be any threat to Apple's iPhone. Instead, it would be one of the few Android phones that would stand out from all of the others. It could be a viable product that could become a big threat to HTC, Moto, Samsung and others. Sony would have many advantages that Apple enjoys, including making the PSP software, the game controllers and APIs, software distribution channels, and most importantly, consumer familiarity and reputation for the gaming genre.
I wouldn't think that Sony would allow other manufacturers to license the PSP system into their hardware, so it would likely be a Sony exclusive within the Android sea of many look-alikes. If Sony does this correctly, it could become an popular device.

I agree, but I wouldn't think of it as much of a threat to HTC, Moto, Samsung, etc. as a threat to Android itself, because it represents yet a further and very brand-specific fracturing of the OS... unless Android is running in a hypervisor on the PSP Phone hardware. That wouldn't be a bad idea, as it could run Android games in their own OS, and it would be much easier for PSP Phone users to upgrade the OS in future. What this would mean is that PSP phone games are not Android games.

On the other hand, if the PSP Phone games are just Android games that require Sony-specific libraries and/or require a Sony-modified Android/Linux kernel, then I expect to see haX0rz porting that to Nexus One using a PS3 Sixaxis controller for input. Sony is in denial if they think this couldn't happen. It also means that future Android updates would have to come from Sony. This would be a true fracturing of the Android platform, and my guess is that Sony isn't interested in courting "casual games" developers and one-man game studios. Sony would lock it down to just "AAA" titles (blockbuster games). They're interested in EA porting Madden 12 or Need for Speed over. But why would big publishers like EA do that if Sony's Android phone only represents a fraction of the Android market?

I just can't believe Sony intends turn PSP into another branch of the Android source tree. I think it's got to be a hypervisor with Android running as a guest OS, and PSP games running on the hardware. If I'm right, I called it! If I'm wrong...meh

Is it just me or has anyone else out there thought that now its on android on its "open" OS its going to mean a matter of weeks before people crack the code and you can just download the games off of a torrent site somewhere.

As much as people hate to admit it that is one way that Apple and iOS has an advantage. Especially for developers. Hell even windows phone 7 and its xbox live integration has potential.

How many devs can you see jumping to the chance to sell half a dozen copies of an app/game when it is all over the internet and free thanks to Androids insecurities?

Personally i like the idea that a larger games company teams up with a phone OS maker. I just cant see it working if they decide to go completely open source.

Im really hoping that one day we either see a merger or a buy out of Nintendo with Apple. Great games and a great distribution network.

i can hope.

Ever heard of jailbreaking? Or a silly little app that begins with "install?" You can do this on iPod/iPad/iPhone already as well. It's dumb if you ask me, but whatever. App prices for the most part are reasonable enough that it's not an issue for many people to support the developers.

Umm... Last I read, PSP sales in hardware and games are still going strong. iOS and Android are only just recently capable of pushing PSP-level graphics. Because of this, it'll be a while before the game producers for portable gaming systems (PSP, DS) shift over in force to smartphones.

then you ain't been reading much in 2010. go over to Gamasutra and search their news for "PSP" to get the sad story. last fiscal quarter, all PSP sales were down to just 1.5 million, only 50% of same quarter in 2009.

the iPod touch is killing the PSP. same 2010 quarter 7 million were sold.

They should have seen this coming so many years ago, made their portable gaming devices into great portable media players back in the iPod heyday and been ready for the inevitable combining of cellphones into pocketable devices. Too little, too late Im afraid.

I've never understood this idea of "too late". This whole thing is just getting started, and I think there are many more surprises ahead.

It's rather like calling the whole PC war done after the commodore pet was released.

I've never understood this idea of "too late". This whole thing is just getting started, and I think there are many more surprises ahead.

It's rather like calling the whole PC war done after the commodore pet was released.

I see what youre saying, and agree. My too late comment shouldnt be read literally or fatalist to the company as a whole. For instance, is it to late for MS trying to keep their Windows Mobile marketshare and profits on high? Is it too late for Sony and Nintendo to try to keep their portable gaming consoles in the top position for portable gaming devices.

That isnt to say that they cant make a winning device that will overtake the market again, just as Apple and other companies has resurfaced from almost nothing, but theyll have to come with something that exceeds the market they enter in a way that attracts customers again, and many new customers as these markets are growing in scale. Meaning, these large, typically slow moving companies will have relearn how to act like fast, nimble start-ups.

In other words, for them to capture the market again they will have to do something different. Hence, too late.

Even Steve Jobs said that they lost the PC wars and that they would focus on the next thing. Perhaps ironically, that next thing has led to a resurgence of the Mac PC which made them the most profitable PC maker in the world with a still accelerating growth rate.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"